Pope Francis' Coat of Arms

Pope Francis' papal coat of arms are the same that he used as bishop. The shield has a bright blue background, at the center top of which is a yellow radiant sun with the IHS christogram representing Jesus (it is also the Jesuit logo). The IHS monogram, as well as a cross that pierces the H, are in red with three black nails directly under them. Under that, to the left, is a star representing Mary, Mother of Christ and the Church. To the right of the star is a spikenard flower representing Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. With these symbols the Pope demonstrates his love for the Holy Family.

What distinguishes his coat of arms as pontiff is that, instead of the wide-brimmed, red cardinal's hat atop the shield, it is now crowned by the papal tiara and crossed keys.

His motto—“miserando atque eligendo” (because he saw him through the eyes of mercy and chose him)—is taken from the Venerable Bede's homily on the Gospel account of the call of Matthew. It holds special meaning for the Pope because—when he was only 17-years-old, after going to confession on the Feast of St. Matthew in 1953—he perceived God's mercy in his life and felt the call to the priesthood, following the example of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Pope Francis’ Ring and Pallium

The pallium is a sign of office in the Latin Church worn by the pope and by metropolitan archbishops. It is a white woolen band formed into a circle which lies over the shoulders, with bands extending down the front and the back. There are several crosses embroidered on it, and it is tipped in black silk.

Pope Francis receives his ring during the Mass ofInauguration on March 19, 2013. CNS Photo/Paul Haring.

Pope Benedict XVI’s pallium was distinct from that of metropolitan archbishops: the crosses were the color red. He used two different forms: his first was a larger version, based on the more ancient form, which draped over the right shoulder. This is the one he eventually left as a symbolic gesture on the tomb of Pope Celestine V in L’Aquila after visiting the site of the earthquakes there. Later he had a modified version that was narrower and had bands extending from the center rather than the right shoulder, which is presumably the one that will be used by Pope Francis.

The pallium is a sign of jurisdiction, so the pope always wears the pallium wherever he goes. Metropolitan archbishops only wear theirs within their territory and only as long as they hold the office of metropolitan archbishop (i.e., they do not wear it after retirement).

The pallium is a sign of office in the Latin Church worn by the pope and by metropolitan archbishops

The pallium is a reminder of the ministry of the Good Shepherd, who carries the sheep over his shoulder. The pallium is reminiscent of the feedbag that the shepherd carried to feed the sheep. On Tuesday it will be conferred upon the Holy Father by the Protodeacon of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Jean–Louis Tauran, the same cardinal who announced the election of Pope Francis from the loggia last Wednesday.

At the time of his episcopal ordination, a bishop is presented with a ring as a “symbol of the bishop’s fidelity to and nuptial bond with the Church, his spouse, and he is to wear it always.” (Ceremonial of Bishops, no. 58). The Fisherman’s Ring is the ring worn by the pope. It is a gold ring with an image of St. Peter, called to be “a fisher of men,” casting his nets. Above the image is inscribed the pope’s chosen name. The ring is a sign of his authority; in the past the ring was used to create the wax seal for papal decrees. For this reason, the ring is destroyed upon the death or resignation of the pope. The Fisherman’s Ring will be presented to the Holy Father by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.

The ring Pope Francis will wear bears the image of St. Peter with the keys and was designed by Enrico Manfrini. The Vatican reports that Archbishop Pasquale Macchi, (d. 2006)
former personal secretary of Pope Paul VI, kept the wax cast of a ring
made for Paul VI by the artist Manfrini, who had made several
medals and other artistic objects for Paul VI. The ring was
never cast into metal, and Paul VI always wore another ring that was commissioned at the time of the Second
Vatican Council. Archbishop Macchi left the cast,
along with other objects, to Monsignor EttoreMalnati, who worked closely with him for many
years. Monsignor Malnati made
a ring of gold-plated silver from thewax
cast. This was offeredto
Pope Francis, along with several other possible rings, by the Papal
Master of Ceremonies, through the
auspices of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, retired Prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Bishops.
It was this ring that Pope Francis chose to be the ring of the
Fisherman, which will be presented to him at the Mass of Inauguration of his Petrine Ministry on March 19, 2013.

By accepting this message, you will be leaving the website of the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This link is provided
solely for the user's convenience. By providing this link, the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops assumes no responsibility for,
nor does it necessarily endorse, the website, its content, or
sponsoring organizations.